Scott Drive Church, Exmouth (CIO) - Registered Charity No. 1195047
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 2[nd] July 2021 – 31[st] Dec. 2022
CHURCH INFORMATION
Address: Scott Drive, Exmouth, EX8 3LF
Trustees: Lee Emerson, Steve Owen, Ian Margeson, Gurjit Malli, Gary Currie, Iain Randall, Jonathan Hughes
Charity Number: 1195047
Bankers: TSB bank plc, PO Box 373, LS14 9CG
Independent Examiner: Mr David Simms, 58 Moormead, Budleigh Salterton, EX9 6PU
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report and accounts for the period ended 31st December 2022.
1 Objectives and Activities
The purposes of the church are:
1 The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Exmouth and the surrounding neighbourhood; and
2 Such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the members of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life;
provided that the advancement of such purposes must be undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the Doctrinal Distinctives and Ethical Statements as may be adopted and amended by the church from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Church Handbook.
2 Public Benefit
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance in the exercise of their powers and duties, and consider that the activities undertaken in pursuance of the church’s objectives fulfil the requirements of the Charity Commission’s public benefit disclosure.
3 Structure, Governance and Management
The church is a registered charity. Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) number 1195047 registered on 8[th] July 2021 and governed by its Constitution dated 2[nd] July 2021
The trustees who served in the period 2[nd] July 2021 to 31[st] Dec. 2022 were: Lee Emerson – July 2[nd] 2021 – 31[st] December 2022 inclusive (Pastor & elder) Bes Gorrea – July 2[nd] 2021 – 31[st] January 2022 inclusive (Assistant Pastor & elder) Steve Owen – July 2[nd] 2021 – 31[st] December 2022 inclusive (elder) Ian Margeson – July 2[nd] 2021 – 31[st] December 2022 inclusive (deacon) Gurjit Malli – July 2[nd] 2021 – 31[st] December 2022 inclusive (deacon) Gary Currie – July 2[nd] 2021 – 31[st] December 2022 inclusive (deacon) Iain Randall – July 14[th] 2022 – 31[st] December 2022 (elder)
Day to day governance of the church is in the hands of the elders & deacons (the Trustees), who met roughly monthly, sometimes on Zoom if circumstances prevented meeting in person. Major decisions are made by the members at Church Members’ Meetings held as required and normally not less than four times a year. During 2021 the AGM was held on 28[th] April.
4. Review of activities
4.1
Government regulations during the third lockdown (from Jan 2021) allowed churches to remain open, and as a consequence meetings for worship, prayer and the ministry of God’s word were held at the church’s premises every Sunday throughout 2021 and 2022. For those who were concerned about the risk from Covid, services were livestreamed. This came to an end in July 2021, when most lockdown rules lapsed. After this, services were recorded and available on the church website, while the few who could not attend were able to follow live on Zoom.
In addition to services, weekly meetings in homes continued, with groups meeting at four venues in Exmouth & Budleigh Salterton.
After much hard work, the church grounds have been opened as a community garden, available to all local residents. BBQs have been held there over the summer months, notably one to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Other meetings to resume included the Ladies’ and Men’s Breakfasts and the First Saturday Games Afternoon, to which members of the public are warmly welcomed. A Ladies’ Bible study group started meeting weekly during 2022.
Door-to-door visiting of homes in the area resumed with Mark Perkins, giving residents an opportunity to hear about the offer of salvation in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Invitations to church social activities were also given out during these visits.
Three outside groups use the church premises: the WI meet in the building monthly; a family support group (‘Bubble & Play’) use the building weekly, as do the ‘Esteem Team’, a group which supports parents & carers of children with SEN.
In October 2021 the church hosted a conference on the 401[st] anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. In December 2021 & 2022 the church buildings were transformed in order to facilitate a ‘Walk to Bethlehem’ event to enable members of the public to engage with the Christmas story. A Thanksgiving Service for Gill Sparks was held in August.
Members of the church also led meetings at a local care home (Resthaven) and the church also provided preachers for other local churches, such as Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sidmouth (where the Pastor for Scott Drive also served as Moderator until Jan 2022), Topsham Gospel Hall, Honiton Congregational Church, New House Baptist Church in Smeatharpe and Dawlish Baptist Church.
In November 2021 the Church Meeting agreed to take over the building in Budeigh Salterton formerly used by the Church on the Green, and this took effect from 1[st] January 2022. Meetings were held there on every Sunday evening over the course of that year. Prayer meetings and home groups have also used the building regularly. It is also made available for the Budleigh Literary Festival and the Budleigh Music Festival. The long-term goal is to see the size of the congregation at Scott Drive grow to the point that it can establish a separate congregation at these new premises, and eventually help this congregation to form a new independent church.
4.2 Involvement of the congregation
Members of the congregation are involved in all aspects of the work of the Church; examples include taking part in services, prayer meetings and home groups; helping with garden maintenance & social activities; church cleaning. The Church would be unable to function without their aid. This has been especially so during the coronavirus pandemic, with members assisting in the arrangements enabling the church to meet whilst complying with the lockdown requirements.
4.3 Risk Assessment
Four main areas of risk have been identified, and the following mitigation procedures have been put in place:-
a) The trustees review the finances at their monthly meetings to ensure that funds are available for ongoing support of its objectives.
b) A new Safeguarding policy has been proposed by Iain Randall, and has been shared with church members, and is due for adoption at the January church meeting. DBS checks are made for all those who work with children or other vulnerable groups as part of the charity's activities, using the services of Christian Safeguarding Services .
c) Appropriate insurance is in place to protect the charity.
d) Measures to ensure minimum risk of virus transmission were put in place.
4.4 Charitable giving
4.4.1 The church supports a number of missionaries, Christian workers, Christian organisations and charities both financially and in prayer.
In the period July 2[nd] 2021 – Dec. 31[st] 2022, these included the following, who were financially supported from church funds:
Crosslinks (Bernie & Rachael Muluuta) The ministry of FIEC Good News for Everyone (formerly The Gideons) The Christian Institute Barnabas Fund Open Doors Passion for Life (a nation-wide mission to be held in 2022) Mark Perkins (an outreach worker with Outreach UK) Slavic Gospel Association (for Ukraine) UCCF (Universities’ & Colleges’ Christian Fellowship) MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) PGP (The Peninsula Gospel Partnership) PTI (Pastor Training International)
5 Financial Review
Total receipts on unrestricted funds amounted to £78,270.09. The great majority of this came from the personal giving of members of the congregation, with only a small amount deriving from hire of the premises. As this covered an 18-month period, no exact comparison with previous years is possible. However, it is clear that the giving has increased significantly; for instance, in 2020 receipts totalled £43,004.68. Even if this figure was increased by 50% (to simulate an 18-month period), it would still be almost £24,000 less than for the period in view. This reflects the fact that attendance at services has increased, as has the membership of the church. We are deeply grateful to God for this commitment and generosity at a time of financial hardship in the country as a whole.
In view of the increase in giving to the church, it was agreed at the church meeting in October 2021 to make the post of Assistant Pastor a full-time one and to raise the salary to £25,000 pa with immediate effect. However, at about the same time, the incumbent Assistant Pastor agreed to become the new Minister of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Sidmouth, from the beginning of February 2022. This has meant that the church has not been paying a salary for most of this period, and has resulted in a build-up of funds. We are expecting this situation to change once a new appointment has been made. It was also decided by the Trustees that a gift of £10,000 received in the prior year should be designated to a Housing Fund with the general aim of helping a new pastor and his family secure accommodation in the town.
The church operates a policy whereby 10% of donations are transferred to a Mission Fund for distribution to mission agencies. Thus a total of just over £6k was made available during this period for mission work abroad. This total is separate from the figure of £4,800 which is paid to Mark Perkins for his help with the Church’s evangelism.
The legal fees (£2,445.60) are a consequence of expenses incurred in negotiating the transition to CIO status.
SCOTT DRIVE CHURCH CIO RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS For The Period 2 July 2021 to 31 December 2022
| RECEIPTS Offerings, Donations, Gifts Covenant Gift Aid Donation Stewardship Hire of Hall Gift Aid Tax Refund Interest Income TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Staffing Costs Pastoral Support Utilities Insurance Accountancy Fees Legal Fees Publicity Church on the Green Other Expenses Mark Perkins Support Gifts Distributed FIEC Annual Donation TOTAL PAYMENTS Excess Income over Expenditure Transfer of Funds: Mark Perkins Support 10% Offerings Balances as at 01/07/2021 Balances as at 31/12/2022 |
General Fund £47,827 £16,160 £900 £848 £12,399 £135 £78,270 £13,153 £1,606 £3,281 £1,271 £350 £2,484 £142 £2,032 £9,575 £33,893 £44,377 (£7,200) (£6,091) £19,752 £50,838 |
Missionary Fund (Designated) - £7,200 £3,374 £1,506 £12,080 (£12,080) £7,200 £6,091 £1,176 £2,386 |
Housing Fund (Designated) - - - £10,000 £10,000 |
31/12/2022 TOTAL £47,827 £16,160 - £900 £848 £12,399 £135 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £78,270 | ||||
| £13,153 £1,606 £3,281 £1,271 £350 £2,484 £142 £2,032 £9,575 £7,200 £3,374 £1,506 |
||||
| £45,974 | ||||
| £32,297 £30,927 |
||||
| £63,224 |
SCOTT DRIVE CHURCH CIO STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES At 31 December 2022
| Fixed Assets Tangible assets Current Assets Bank accounts Net Assets These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by: Signed: Lee Emerson Trustee Date: 30 October 2023 |
31/12/2022 £515,779 £63,224 |
|---|---|
| £579,003 | |
SCOTT DRIVE CHURCH CIO NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For The Period 2 July 2021 to 31 December 2022
1. Receipts & payments accounts
Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.
2. Grants & donations
| Western Counties Trust Sundry |
£1,500 £62,487 |
|---|---|
| £63,987 |
3. Trustees' remuneration
One Trustee received remuneration of £13,153 during the period to 31 December 2022, however this was not in respect of their duties as a Trustee.
4. Tangible Fixed Assets
| Cost or valuation Additions At 31 December 2022 Carrying amount At 31 December 2022 |
Total £472,095 £43,684 £515,779 Land & Property Furniture, fittings & equipment |
|---|---|
| £472,095 £43,684 £515,779 |
|
| £472,095 £43,684 £515,779 |
5. Guarantees & debts
The charity has not provided any guarantees, nor does it have any debts subject to a charge on its assets, during the period to 31 December 2022.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Exarniner'8 Report Rgport to the triJ$teesl m¢mbers of Scott Drive Church CIO On aGGounts for th? year ended 31 D8cember2022 Charlty no lif any) 1195047 Sot out on pag05 3to5 I report to the trustee8 on rny examination of the accounts of the above harity I'lhe Trugl") forthe period ended 310ecember 2022 Responslbllltio$ and As th8 charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible forthe preparation basi$ of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of th8 char8 A 20111.lhe Acl'l. I report in respect of rny examination of the Trust's a¢¢ounts ¢arried cul under 88ction 14$ of the 2011 Act and In carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable D1CtiOnS gwen by the Charity Commis$ion under section 14515llbl of the Act. I have ¢ompleled my examination I Confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the exatnination which give8 me cause to believe that In, any material respe¢t." accounting records were not kept in accordanc8 wth section 130 of the Act or the a¢¢ounts do not accord with th8 accountiNJ record$ Indgpendont oxaminer's statement I have no ¢onTrms and have come acro88 no other tnatter5 in connection th the examination to which 8tt8nlion should be dra in orderto enab propel understanding of the accounts lo be reaGhed Slgnod- Date: Nam•: David Simms Relevant pf&S$1¢nal qualificationl$l or body lrfanyl.. FCCA Addm$'. 58 Moomead Budleigh Satterton EX9 SPU Section B DisclosuTÈ Only complete if the exatniner needs lo highlight matters of concern Isee CC32, Independent examination of Gharity accounts.. d1ctionS and guidance for examinersl- IER October 2018